$3,950 7 nights/8 days Fully Australian Led Tour
Visiting Kokoda, Buna, Gona & Sanananda & Bomana War Cemetery
Dates: 31 October - 7 November 2024
On 3 November 1942, General George Vasey, Commander of Maroubra Force held a flag raising ceremony at Kokoda, thus signifying the end of the fighting in the Owen Stanley Range. We will attend the official ceremony commemorating the 82nd Anniversary of the Kokoda Campaign at Kokoda.
Through a unique blend of adventure, master story telling and living history, Dave Howell will bring to life the events of the Kokoda campaign as he accompanies you on this once in a lifetime pilgrimage. This tour will visit Port Moresby, Owers’ & McDonalds Corners, Sogeri, Koitaki Showgrounds, Kokoda Station (village) and drive part way up the famous Kokoda Track.
The physical challenge of trekking in Papua New Guinea is not for everyone. Therefore, we have created a special non-trekking tour that will allow you to visit the key areas of the campaign without having to trek. Join historian David Howell as we visit the key points of the Kokoda Campaign. We will attend the official service at Kokoda on the occasion of the 82nd Anniversary.
We will also visit the Northern Beachheads of Buna, Gona and Sanananda.
Visit Kokoda in comfort and without trekking and remember those who gave their tomorrow for our today.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Thursday, 31 October 2024
On arrival in Port Moresby, you will be met by your Australian tour leader Dave Howell, before transferring to the Hilton Hotel. The group will meet in the hotel lobby at 7pm before moving to dinner in the main dining room. Over dinner David will give a brief on what to expect in PNG and some background on the battles fought in Papua, 1942.
(D.) (Tonight, sleep Hilton Hotel Port Moresby)
Day 2: Friday, 1 November 2024
This morning, we will take a sightseeing tour around Port Moresby stopping to view the wreck of the M.V. Macdhui. We will also visit both the PNG National War Memorial and the PNG National Museum. We will then visit the PNG Nature Park for a buffet lunch. After we will have a fully guided tour of the park to view many of the unique plants and animals PNG has to offer. We will then return to our hotel to relax.
(B, L.) (Tonight, sleep Hilton Hotel Port Moresby)
Day 3: Saturday, 2 November 2024
Today we will travel up the Sogeri Highway to Owers' Corner via McDonald's Corner, the start of the Kokoda Track. David will bring to life the story of Kokoda. We will look out into the Owen Stanley Range to Imita Ridge and beyond.
We will then travel to the Koitaki Showgrounds the site of the infamous 'Rabbit that Runs Speech' before having lunch at Sogeri Lodge. We will then make our way to Varirata National Park (PNG’s first National Park) before returning to the hotel.
(B, L.) (Tonight, sleep Hilton Hotel Port Moresby)
Day 4: Sunday, 3 November 2024
Early breakfast at the hotel, (don’t forget to grab your lunch pack) then we board our charter flights to Kokoda. With just over thirty minutes flying time we will see some magnificent views of the Owen Stanley Range, including Lake Myola, as we fly almost directly above the famous Kokoda Track. At the Kokoda Plateau we will visit the Herbert Kienzle Museum. David will detail the desperate struggle by the Papuan Infantry Battalion & 39 Australian Infantry Battalion who fought two battles in the vicinity at the start of the Kokoda campaign.
We will then drive along part of the northern end of the Kokoda Track. Leaving Kokoda, we will travel north to Popondetta stopping along the way to see Oivi & Gorari, the mighty Kumusi River and Awala, where the first contact took place. We will then call in to Popondetta and visit the war memorial while our staff take on supplies. Then we head to Buna via Oro Bay visiting Dobodura No.4 (Horanda 4 East), runway and the Stuart Tank.
(B, L, D) (Tonight sleep-Buna Guest House)
Day 5: Monday, 4 November 2024
This morning, we will tour Buna where David will take you on a guided tour of the village. In Buna we will see both the Australian and US memorials and walk along the same road depicted in the famous George Silk photograph of George ‘Dick’ Whittington and Raphael Ombari. We will also visit the anti-aircraft gun, the Japanese runway, Buna Mission Point, the Triangle (and the anti-aircraft bunker positions still in place) and a couple of the local museums.
(B, L, D,) (Tonight sleep-Buna Guest House)
Day 6: Tuesday, 5 November 2024
This morning, we will take a boat ride to Gona where we will see the Australian Memorial, Gona Creek, and Gona Beach. Then we will take the boat up to Sanananda. In Sanananda village we will have lunch, and you will be able to purchase souvenirs at the local craft market. After lunch, David will take you across the back creek (original shoreline) to the 55/53 & 49 Battalion & 2/6 Armoured Regiment memorials, you will continue via vehicle to see the Wirraway wreck the Japanese hospital and Huggins Roadblock before returning to Buna.
(B, L, D) (Tonight sleep-Buna Guest House)
Day 7: Wednesday, 6 November 2024
Up very early this morning as we say goodbye to Basil and our hosts at Buna. We will make our way to Girua airport where we will board our flight to Port Moresby. Don’t forget to look down as we take off, to see the many wartime remnants of the bomb bays hiding in the Kuni grass. On arrival back in Port Moresby, we will make our way to Bomana War Cemetery, the last resting place of many who fought and died in the Papuan campaigns.
Bomana is the also the last resting place of John French VC who was killed in action at Milne Bay and to Bruce Kingsbury VC who fell at Isurava. After our visit to Bomana, then we will make our way back to the hotel to check in to our rooms and have lunch. The remainder of the day is free to enjoy the amenities of the hotel. (B, L.)
(Tonight, sleep Hilton Hotel Port Moresby)
Day 9: Thursday, 7 November 2024
Sadly, our tour comes to an end. We will transfer to the Port Moresby International Airport for our return to Australia. (B)
KOKODA MAP
Information Booklet
Inclusions
- Kokoda Historian David Howell
- Experienced Local Guides
- Charter airfare Port Moresby to Kokoda return
- 4 nights twin-share hotel accommodation at the Hilton Hotel with transfer to/from airport
- Communications and safety equipment Inc. Satellite phone
- Public liability insurance
- Signed copy of Kokoda Legend-Captain Sam Templeton
- Kokoda Historical T- Shirt
Exclusions
- International return airfare (we can arrange or you can book your own)
- Hotel extras, drinks, laundry etc.
- Personal travel insurance
- Meals not indicated on the itinerary
Optional Extras
- Single Supplement $920 for the 4 nights 5-star accommodation. Note single supplement is not guaranteed at Buna and is not charged.
Price
$3,950 ex Port Moresby
8 day tour
Dates
31 October- 7 November 2023
31 October- 7 November 2024
